Wis. panel approves higher electric, gas rates

The utility had asked the Public Service Commission to increase electric rates by about $100 million. The commission approved a $60 million increase. That will translate to about $6.10 more a month for the typical residential customer.

The utility also wanted to increase natural gas rates by about $6.2 million. The commission reduced that to $5.5 million. That will mean another $1.50 per month for customers.

The PSC says the utility's Bent Tree wind farm project in Minnesota, other construction projects and sales drops related to the recession drove the increases. PSC commissioners said they balanced the utility's needs and customers working through hard times.